Top Ten Other Loudest Bands In Rock!
Alan recently sent me this list from Gibson’s (the guitar company) website. And it’s really hard to argue with the site’s list. They have numbers and figures to back up their claims and honestly, I’m pretty sure their correct. But what about the other loud bands that are out there? There are a ton of bands out there that wouldn’t even show up on Gibson’s radar that are really loud. For example, I had a college instructor who once told me the loudest show he had ever been to was The Screaming Blue Messiahs.
Who? These guys.
According to my teacher, they were so loud, it caused him permanent hearing damage. It should be noted that Guiness no longer recognises “loudest” bands (apparently they don’t want to promote hearing damage) so who knows how loud current bands are getting. So after asking around, along with my own personal experiences, I have compilied a list of the top ten OTHER loudest bands in rock!
10) Spinal Tap
Never seen them but I hear their amps are specially made to go up to 11. That’s one more then everyone else.
9) Leftfield
Okay, so not exactly a rock band but they once performed so loud at the Brixton Academy that it caused plaster to break away from the roof.
8) Deftones
Incredibly loud in a club or hockey arena setting. Bowl rumbling bass and guitar.
7) Muse (circa 2004)
I haven’t seen Muse since 2004 but when I saw them during The Cure’s Curiosa Festival, they were on the second stage and you could hear them all the way over at the first stage. They were LOUD. Before their set started, I ran into a buddy from high school who had played in punk bands during our teens. Muse started playing and I watched Dan wince in ear pain.
6) Slayer
How did Slayer not make the original list? They sound like a bass heavy jet engine taking off… for the entirety of the show.
5) Ministry
I’ve seen Ministry with a number of different line ups over the years and only one thing remained true. They got louder each time I saw them. The last time was at a smaller venue in Guelph, I went with my roommate and afteward I asked him “What did you think?” “LOUD! VERY LOUD!”. Dave’s day job? He worked in a factory with heavy duty machines that made autoparts.
4) Big Sugar (90’s)
To Canadians of my… vintage, when you ask who the loudest band they’ve ever seen is, the answer you get is Big Sugar. Molson Park, earsplitting loud, small club or bar, still that loud. They also happen to be the most stylish loud band I’ve ever seen. Crankin the amps in Hugo Boss suits, good stuff.
3) Sonic Youth
A lot of guitar noise and a lot of feedback. During the run as headliner for Lollapalooza in 1995, I ended up right in front of the stage. I’ve got the hearing damage from the feedback solo during Diamond Sea to prove it.
2) Foo Fighters
I know, a little bit of a surprise but in 2011, Foo Fighters played so loud in that it registered on a seismograph… for the entire show… two and a half hours long!
1) Gallows
These guys actually beat Manowar’s record in 2007. Except this was in a studio. Can you imagine sitting a small studio with 132 dbs blasting at your face?
And from Facebook the overwhelming answer seem to correspond with Gibson’s list, AC/DC was the odds on favourite for loudest band ever. The loudest show Alan has ever been to is Anvil in 1982 (and keep in mind Alan’s seen a LOT of shows). Other people brought up a different type of noise. Joanne mentioned the loudest crowd she’d ever heard was at an Elton John show at the ACC. Andrus said that the girls at a New Kids On The Block concert were “soooooooooo fucking loud!!!!!!!!!!!”.
Now it’s your turn, what were the loudest shows you’ve ever been to? Please leave your stories in the comment section below!
Saw the Georgia Satellites in Cambridge ON at the old Highlands venue around 89/90. Loudest event I ever heard. Ears literally rang for a couple days after.. which was probably not a good thing! And probably a good reason why my hearing is so bad now. Band was amazing though!
I’m surprised Korn didn’t make either list. i believe they achieved a record of sorts for loudness in the early 2000’s
Dinosaur Jr believe it or not.
Absolutely Big Sugar! Saw them at the Bombshelter at UW. Small venue and the bass was soooooo fucking deep and awesome that I puked! The alcohol had no part of it… I swear 😉
Saw Motorhead on the Ace of Spades tour at the Danforth Music Hall (with Anvil opening) . My ears were ringing for three days afterwards. Big Sugar at the Harbour Inn in Owen Sound, very loud especially during the it cover of Dear Mr. Fantasy. Though I recall a night at the Gasworks in the early ’80s, with Santers. Went for a leak and the guy at the next urinal said, “fuck is it loud!”
Rage against the Machine. Caused a 1.0 on the richter scale earthquake in 1994 at pinkpop (look it up.) When I saw them at Coachella in 2007, old people at the restaurant we went to the next morning were talking about hearing the show in palm springs, (25 miles away)
Motörhead at Lulu’s in Kitchener! I play very loud and I ran to the bathroom to get toilet paper to stick in my ears after the first song
Raised Fist in a now closed bar in London Ontario called the Salt Lounge in 2006. It was a low ceiling bar with a raised stage. It was such an intense show, just an all out assault on the senses, but in a good way. The lead singer was jumping up and kicking the ceiling!